About

Outdoor Albania Association is a non-profit organization based in Tirana that gathers people, ideas and partners to work together for the development of responsible tourism in Albania.

OUR MISSION

The Outdoor Albania Association is committed to preserving Albania’s green spaces and developing ecotourism in partnership with local communities. We believe in educating our people to care for the beautiful lands that surround us, in sharing the beauty of Albania with others, and in creating sustainable development in rural Albania by empowering communities to take advantage of the many opportunities for ecotourism in this region.

Since 2005, Outdoor Albania has been working with communities–particularly young people–to use the ready-made resource of their natural surroundings for ecotourism. Rural Albania has immense potential to attract tourist business year-round as a much needed boost to the economy, yet typically these natural spaces are poorly cared for and inaccessible by trail or road. At the same time, opportunities for work are few, and the young generation increasingly is leaving Albania in search of better possibilities abroad.

“…the economic possibilities of tourism only truly benefit communities when their their natural surroundings, rich culture, and ancient traditions are preserved.”

It is exciting to experience the genesis of a touristic future, and our mission is to enable Albanian villages and small communities to become a part of this reality– with a clear commitment to preserve and protect our most valuable natural and cultural assets. The Outdoor Albania Association began with projects in the Tirana area and along the coast, and now has expanded inland, to the unspoiled mountainous areas that have seen little or no development at all. Now we our proud to offer opportunities for ecotourism in the northern, southern, and central Albania, operating off of the philosophy that the economic possibilities of tourism only truly benefit communities when their their natural surroundings, rich culture, and ancient traditions are preserved. Therefore, we are committed to developing Albania’s economy at a micro-level through direct involvement with individual communities.